Student survey 2024: Summary
This summary presents key data from The Tavistock and Portman’s annual student survey for the academic year 2023/24, which collected responses between 16 April and 12 July 2024 and 29 August to 11 October 2024.
Overview:
Our 2024 annual student survey received a 25% response rate – a little lower than the previous year’s 39%. Overall student satisfaction remained high at 80%, with learning and teaching receiving an overall satisfaction rating of 82%.
Improvements were recorded in a number of areas, including support for health and wellbeing; research induction, progression and assessment; and Master’s dissertations, with satisfaction ratings increasing in these areas by 16%, 10% and 6% respectively.
Areas of concern included support for disabled students, course organisation and communication, and managing the work-life-study balance.
Background:
The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust has run an annual student survey in various forms since 2004. To enable benchmarking, the questions are largely based on the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) and the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES), both run nationally by Advance HE. This anonymous survey is a key component of the Trust’s engagement with students, alongside more frequent touchpoints, such as course committee and Dean’s Forum meetings.
Response rate:
The 2024 annual student survey received a 25% response rate. Although this represents a decrease from the 39% response rate recorded in 2023, it compares favourably with the 2024 PTES response rate of 13%.
Student satisfaction:
Overall student satisfaction remained high at 80%. In the equivalent 2024 national surveys, AdvanceHE reported overall satisfaction rates of 83% in the PTES and 81% in the PRES – meaning that the Trust’s overall satisfaction rating is broadly comparable with these national benchmarks.
Key areas of good practice:
Learning and teaching
Satisfaction in this area remained high at 82%, with 94% of students sharing that their course was intellectually stimulating, and 93% that staff were enthusiastic about what they were teaching.
Student engagement
92% of students agreed that they were encouraged to ask questions and contribute in taught sessions. Students particularly valued opportunities for experiential learning and personal growth afforded by their course.
Experience of research students
Overall levels of satisfaction associated with the research experience increased in 2024, with 89% of professional doctorate candidates agreeing that they understood their responsibilities as research students.
Experience of black students
Overall satisfaction levels shared by black students increased from 71% in 2023 to 89% in 2024, with black students particularly reporting positive experiences in relation to community and culture.
Student support
Overall satisfaction with support and wellbeing increased in 2024, with higher numbers of respondents indicating that support available in relation to academic skills and to health and wellbeing met their needs.
Library services
Overall levels of satisfaction in relation to library services increased in 2024, with 89% of respondents agreeing that they had appropriate access to online resources and 79% that information skills support met their needs.
Key areas for improvement:
Experience of students with disabilities
Students with disabilities reported lower levels of satisfaction overall at 69%. In particular, the need for more support with clinical placements and dissertation planning was shared.
Course organisation
Overall satisfaction in this area remained low at 62%, with students sharing concerns around communication, contingency planning for staff absences, and guidance on processes.
Community and culture
While 79% of respondents reported feeling part of a student community, only 53% reported a sense of belonging at the Tavistock and Portman, and there were requests for more opportunities to interact with peers, and particularly with wider research communities.
Retention
29% of survey respondents shared that they had considered leaving their course, with the demands of balancing personal, professional and academic commitments cited as a major contributing factor.
Actions and use of results:
The full results of the 2024 student survey have been analysed and presented via detailed reports, which will form the basis of action plans in key areas.
The feedback is also integrated into our annual course review – informing course-level action plans, which are discussed at course committees.
A number of steps have already been taken to address some of the concerns raised by students in previous student surveys, including:
Welcome Week and pre-arrival support
Welcome Week 2024 included a range of additional opportunities to interact with fellow students and members of staff, induction sessions covering reasonable adjustments, and extra support for enrolment queries. A pre-arrival survey was also introduced in August 2024 to provide key information and guidance in advance of the start of term.
Inductions for students on doctoral programmes
Enhanced provision for doctoral students was also implemented as part of Welcome Week 2024, with sessions arranged prior to, and during, the week, to accommodate courses with earlier start dates.
Additional course administration support
Our course administration team has recently undergone an expansion and re-structure – ensuring that the needs of our postgraduate students and staff can continue to be met, and allowing for process improvements to bolster the smooth-running of our courses.
New disability support initiatives
A number of important steps have been made to improve the experience of disabled students at the Trust. An additional member of staff has been appointed to this area, to support the processing of applications for reasonable adjustments. Changes have been made to our reasonable adjustments procedures, to increase transparency and ensure that these can be addressed earlier in the student journey (including during the application process). There is also an ongoing project to embed disability into the curriculum, which includes the development of an online course for teaching staff relating to supporting students with disabilities.
Development of a mental health strategy
The Trust is in the process of developing a mental health strategy in relation to education and training, to ensure a more strategic approach to supporting the emotional wellbeing of our students.
Free on-site printing
The Trust has recently introduced free printing services for students in The Tavistock Centre.
What’s next?
Our next focus areas for consideration and improvement, based on the results of the 2024 student survey, will include:
- Exploring support for students who are experiencing financial challenges.
- Addressing the study-work-life balance via more flexible learning options.
- Setting up a peer mentoring scheme or buddying system.
- Enabling communication across departments and to and from students.